Combination dispensing and measuring vessel



Sept. 10, 1968 v. J. RICHTER 3,400,808

COMBINATION DISPENSING AND MEASURING VESSEL Filed March 1, 1966 0 R o o 0 l8 0 o o 0 0 l8 0 o O 0 0 2| 0 o o o 0 INV ENT OR V/RG/L JOl'l/V RICHTER BY wwdgm'rrw Wdaod/ W A ORNEYS United States Patent 3,400,808 COMBINATION DISPENSING AND MEASURING VESSEL Virgil John Richter, West Orange, N.J., assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 530,865 5 Claims. (Cl. 206-.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A floating, combination dispenser and measuring vessel for introducing bleaching powder into wash water.

This invention relates to the metered dispensing of bleaching powder or the like and particularly to a dispenser assembly of novel construction especially adapted for use in automatic :washing machines.

It has become customary to introduce a quantity of bleaching powder into the wash water in the usual automatic washing machine. In some instances predetermined amounts of the powder are packaged in water soluble packets that are thrown into the wash water, and in some instances the machine operator pours powder directly from a carton according to directions on the carton, In both of these instances the powder may remain concentrated in one region of the wash water, and to overcome this problem it has become known to place the powder in a perforated casing within the wash water to gradually dispense the bleaching agent into the agitated wash Water currents.

The present invention is directed to an inexpensive, reusable dispsenser of novel construction for the reliable metered dispensing of bleach powder uniformly over a period of time into the wash water, and this is the major object of the invention.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel floating dispenser structure wherein two cup-shaped body members, preferably of molded plastic, are detachably connected at their open ends, one member being a measuring vessel for determining the amount of bleach powder or the like to be placed in the dispenser and the other having a perforated wall for metered dispensing of the bleach powder or solution in water, the structure being weighted to insure that the powder is disposed within the perforated member during the time the dispenser is moving about in the wash of a washing machine.

More specific objects of the invention relate to structural details of this dispenser, as will become apparent in connection with the claims directed thereto, and such further objects will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a section on line 1-1 of FIGURE 2 showing a dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser of FIGURE 1.

The bleach dispenser of the invention consists essentially of two cup-shaped body members 11 and 12 of substantially the same shape and size that are detachably secured together at their open ends as by a threaded joint indicated at 13.

One body member 11 is formed with imperforate walls and functions, when detached, as a measuring cup to insure that a predetermined amount of bleach powder may be introduced into the dispenser. It may be desirable to form one or more internal annular ridges 14 and 15 within the member 11 to enable measured partial filling of the cup for different washing purposes, or for introducing desired volumes of other powders than bleach, or mixtures of powders.

The other body member 12 has a closed bottom wall 16 and an annular side wall 17 provided with a plurality of perforations 18. The number and size of perforations 18 is not critical but they should be in such quantity and sutficiently small and of a known total area to produce a distributed metered dispensing of the bleach powder over several minutes time during the washing action,

A suitable weight 21, which may preferably be a block of lead, stainless steel or some relatively heavy rust resistant metal, is secured as by adhesive at 22 upon the inner surface of bottom wall 16 of body member 12 in the assembly, for proper orientation of the assembly in the washing machine space.

The body members 11 and 12 are secured together in assembly by the easily openable threaded joint 13 formed by an externally threaded rim 23 on the measuring memher and a cooperating internally threaded neck 24 on the other body member. The threads extend axially for only a few turns and when the parts are relatively turned to full extent as shown in FIGURE 1 axial abutment of the cup side walls at 25 produces a tight seal joint.

In operation the body members 11 and 12 are readily detached with a few turns, and the measured amount of bleach or other powder placed in body member 11. The two body members are again connected by the threaded joint 13 and thrown into the wash water of a "washing machine of any type at the desired time.

In the wash water the weighted end. of the floating dispenser will assure such orientation of the dispenser within the wash water space that the powdered material to be dispensed is all transferred to the perforate wall member, and this insures proper dispensing and intimate contact of the water with all of the bleach powder. Water enters the perforations to dissolve the powder and the solution is widely distributed through the perforations as the dispenser is moved about within the agitated wash water. The powder itself usually does not contact the clothes, which protects delicate fabrics.

The dispenser of the invention therefore provides an inexpensive but extremely efficient unit that may be used in any make of washing machine to introduce and use a predetermined amount of bleach powder. The unit may be refilled and has an indefinite life. It is light and will not harm the agitator should there be contact, and it may be distinctively colored to detect it among the clothes.

In size a preferred embodiment of the dispenser is about three inches long and about two inches in diameter, with about 48 dispensing apertures 18 each about 0.05" in diameter, but obviously other operable dimensions are available without departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein:

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A hollow dispenser assembly adapted for unattached mounting with the wash water in a washing machine comprising two separate cup-shaped body members detachably connected at their open ends, one of said body members being a calibrated measuring cup having imperfonate walls for measuring and introducing a predetermined charge of a bleach or like powdered material into the dispenser assembly when the body members-are secured together, and the other of said body members enclosing a volume at least as large as the maximum volume measurable in said measuring cup and having perforate walls through which said material may dispense in controlled manne-r, and a Weight attached to the bottom of said perforate body member for maintaining desired orientation of the assembly during dispensing.

2. The dispenser assembly defined in claim 1, wherein at least one internal ridge is formed integrally within said measuring cup for indicating a predetermined volume of said material.

3. The dispenser assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said body members are interconnected in assembly by a threaded joint.

4. The dispenser assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said body members are integral molded plastic parts.

s. Thedispenser assembly defined in claim 4; wherein said weight is a rust resistant metal element internally fixed to the bottom wall of said perforate body member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,112 10/1915 Taylor 206-05 2,627,184 2/1953 Jones 73427 2,745,642 5/1956 Hermann. 2,793,789 5/1957 Hodge. 2,826,484 3/1958 'Buehler.

FOREIGN PATENTS 214,102 3/1961 Austria.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. 

